The Samoa Weightlifting Federation President and Coach, Tuaopepe Vui Asiata Jerry Wallwork, has been elected as the President of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation (CWF).
The election was held at the end of the Games weightlifting competition during the CWF Congress.
With 45 countries present, Tuaopepe was elected as the new President for the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation.
The previous long standing President was Dato Ong Poh Eng from Malaysia who was first elected in 2014. He was re-elected in 2018 and 2022.
A mid-term vacancy in 2024 was created when Dato Ong Poh Eng stepped down from his position. Tom Liaw of Singapore stepped in as the highest-ranking Vice President to assume leadership duties until the 2026 elections.
Tuaopepe, who was also elected onto the Executive Board of the International Weightlifting Federation in May 2025, will take up the Presidency of CWF for the next four years.
The Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation (CWF) was established 75 years ago in 1947. It is one of the oldest sporting federations of the Commonwealth and encompasses Commonwealth nations from five continents and recognised by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).
Tuaopepe was awarded a Samoa Order of Merit in June 2023 for his contribution to the development of sports in Samoa, particularly the high-achieving National Bank of Samoa national weightlifting team.
Tuaopepe Asiata is also currenly the President of the Samoa Association of National Olympic Committee (SASNOC) – having been elected in April 2025.
Tuaopepe represented Samoa at the 1992 Summer Olympics, following in his late father’s footsteps.
Tuaopepe is the son of weightlifter and Commonwealth Games medalist, the late afioga Seiuli Paul Wallwork.
This landmark appointment highlights Samoa’s growing influence in international sports administration and underscores Wallwork’s lifelong dedication to elevating weightlifting across the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation organises regional and international competitions, sets the rules for Commonwealth events, and manages the sport’s integration into the quadrennial Commonwealth Games.
The CWF secretariat is located in Victoria, Australia together with the Oceania Weightlifting Federation.
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